This Dreamy Mountain Town Is Colorado’s Most Underrated Getaway (Even If You Don’t Like Skiing)

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Let’s be sincere — Colorado may be hit-or-miss this time of yr. Most vacationers aren’t packing shades for the beaming sizzling solar such as you would on a Florida seaside vacay.

Nope — they’re packing shades for the blinding slopes that lure in hundreds of adventurers prepared to courageous the chilly.

However snowboarding is not the one draw for Colorado’s under-hyped mountain towns. After all, there’s Aspen, which exudes luxurious as a bougie resort hideaway, together with others following go well with, corresponding to Vail.

There’s one unsung retreat with its personal airport and plentiful connections to chop journey time and residential to an abundance of sights, even for individuals who favor to let their buddies and fam threat operating into pine bushes at full velocity…

Certainly one of our favorites right here at Travel Off Path is Steamboat Springs, a dreamy city almost 7,000 toes excessive within the Rockies, boasting way over its famend slopes — and you do not have to double-check your insurance coverage coverage for any unintentional wipeouts.

Colorado’s Winter Charmer: Get pleasure from A Hallmark Fundamental Avenue & Rustic Lodges

If there’s one criticism about Aspen apart from sky-high pricing, it is that it tries too laborious to appease guests with a “Hey! Take a look at me!” method.

Different Rockies’ gems do not need to strive so laborious, presenting themselves of their birthday go well with simply as they’re.

Steamboat Springs appears to be like nice within the buff in the event you ask us. Providing guests a picturesque downtown with snow-dusted storefronts, down-home cafes for soulful cups of Jo, and homey, rustic lodging, you will rapidly understand why everybody overspends in Aspen.

Even being one among Colorado’s snowiest cities, downtown is quaint sufficient to be walkable with out being uncomfortable.

Pop in an artwork gallery, a locally-owned boutique store, ample Mother ‘n Pop eateries, or just cozy up by the hearth and benefit from the magnificent surroundings.

Come dinnertime, when the mountain views are not seen, make certain to go to one among Steamboat’s most beloved eating places Ore House at Pine Grove, set in a revamped barn.

Who Mentioned You Have To Settle For Chilly In Winter?

No offense to Utah, however Colorado can soak with the most effective of ’em too. On this case, close by Strawberry Park is the place to be —with the precise planning…

Roads are tough. You can’t drive to this park with out 4WD, so most vacationers go for a simple shuttle pick-up from downtown lodges.

They’re open every single day, so you’ll be able to benefit from the heat and array of well being advantages from its geothermal springs. Simply know they solely settle for money, there is a 2-hour restrict, and it is ‘clothes non-obligatory’ after sunset.

The extra handy possibility (and fewer dangerous on your eyeballs to witness greater than they bargained for) is Old Town Hot Springs, a stone’s throw from downtown.

This extra family-friendly web site presents 8 swimming pools fed by pure springs, averaging temps round 100F in winter. Higher but, there is not any time restrict or superior reservations wanted.

Plus, they open up at 5:30 am on weekdays to begin your day with some quiet time away from the ski crowds.

You may Be Shocked How Many Cities Have Flights Right here

Steamboat Springs will not be a family identify like Aspen, but it surely’s surprisingly easy to journey right here.

Actually, in the event you reside close to a serious airport, it is nearly protected to say you’ll be able to catch a nonstop flight.

As a burgeoning ski resort city, Steamboat additionally presents different outside thrills corresponding to snowmobiling and snowshoeing, making it well-liked with vacationers of every kind, whether or not it is household vacays, romantic {couples} needing time away from the kiddos, or full-on Johnny Tsunami adrenaline junkies.

As such, vacationers from the next cities can fly right here immediately, in accordance with Yampa Regional Valley Airport’s official website:

• Austin (AUS)
• Atlanta (ATL)
• Boston (BOS)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Dallas Love (DAL)
• Denver (DEN)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Minneapolis (MSP)
• Nashville (BNA)
• Newark (EWR)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Washington (IAD)

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist primarily based in San Diego has visited 36 nations and written over 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a lightweight on lesser-known gems.